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Ducati's XDiavel gets Kruggerized!

Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati have enjoyed the inspiration and creativity of unbridled custom bike builders bringing out different looks for its popular cruiser, the XDiavel.

So far two concept bikes were born, one from the mind of Roland Sands and another crusing out of the Ducati Design Center. Ducati has now placed its cruiser in the creative hands of Belgian customizer Fred Krugger. The result is Thiverval, a fresh, futuristic power cruiser boasting extreme attention to detail while retaining its ties with the XDiavel.

Ducati are obviously happy with the latest take on its XDiavel, noting it demonstrates the model’s potential in terms of customization.

Presented in 2016, the Ducati XDiavel is Ducati's take on the cruiser concept offers performance and comfort, riding pleasure and relaxed journeying, all combined with a design that has scooped up some of the biggest prizes both in Europe and the USA. These would include the Red Dot Design Award 2016 and Good Design Award 2016, both highlighting just how the Bologna-built cruiser has smoothly merged two apparently opposing worlds.

The latest concept bike is called the Thiverval, named after a small race track on the outskirts of Paris. It was officially revealed on July 1st at the Lifestyle Village during the 2017 Bikers’ Classics. Held at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, this popular event attracts thousands of vintage motorcycle racing, customized bike and café racer fans.

Fred Krugger, winner of not one, but two editions of the AMD Custom Bike Building World Championship and one of the world's best-known customizers, wanted to create an imaginative power cruiser that would, however, retain strong ties with the XDiavel and ‘the Ducati DNA’ in general.

The resulting effect has been called both original and fascinating. The engine has been left in full view, while the Trellis frame has been deliberately hidden to simplify the lines of the bike. The original headlight has been kept as a clearly recognizable XDiavel trait whereas the superstructures have been completely rebuilt, especially tank and tail, using alternating gloss, matt and chrome finishes dominated by the color black. The tail incorporates the exhaust and the seat, with the latter, in turn, incorporating the rear light, a gem of craftsmanship that kept Fred busy for days.